How to Stop Acne - How Common Is Acne?

How to Stop Acne

How Common Is Acne?
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Acne is extremely common, affecting about 4 in 5 (80%) of adolescents and young adults aged 11 to 30 years. And most of the people of different ages affected by ance never give up researching for the best ways on how to stop it.

Although acne usually first appears during the teenage years, it can occur for the first time in one's twenties or thirties. It is one of the most common skin disorders treated by doctors at Skin Centers around the world. And association of doctors are continouosly formulating effective medicines and methods on how to stop acne which has been the cause of most teenager's problem.

How Does Acne Form?

Acne formation is a complex interplay between genetics, hormones, excessive sebum production, blockage of pore openings, bacteria and the body's immune response. Studying ways on how to stop the cause are bit sensitive and need plenty of time, same as healing someone's acne when it is already acute.

Acne begins at the pilo-sebaceous unit (the oil-producing gland and associated hair follicle). Around puberty, the sebaceous glands grow in size and start producing more sebum under the influence of increased amounts of androgens (male sex hormones) circulating in the body. Androgens are present in both males and females, though males have higher levels of it.

How to Stop Acne

While the enlarged sebaceous the increased and abnormal growth of the cells lining the opening of the pilo-sebaceous unit results in clogging of the opening, causing retention of the sebum and dead skin cells - sebaceous materials - under the skin. The retained sebaceous materials result in the formation of whiteheads (closed comedones) and blackheads (open comedones): the early, non-inflamed lesions of acne.

The retained sebaceous materials provide a good environment for the bacterium (Propionibacterium acnes) to grow and multiply. The body's immune response to the bacteria and its products leads to inflammation, and the formation of red, sometimes painful, pimples. Deeper more intense inflammation results in the formation of larger lesions (nodules) and even pus-filled cavities (cysts).

While the inflammation helps clear the bacteria from the skin, it unfortunately destroys tissue around the pilo-sebaceous glands. This may cause permanent scarring as a final result of the healing process.

How to Stop Acne


Inflammation in Acne Produces Troublesome Lesions:

1. Papules - inflamed lesions that usually appear as small, pink bumps on the skin and can be tender to the touch

2. Pustules (pimples) - papules topped by pus-filled lesions that may be red at the base

3. Nodules - large painful, solid lesions that are lodged deep within the skin

4. Cysts - deep, painful pusfilled lesions that can cause scarring


Understanding the various steps in acne formation has allowed doctors and researchers to develop better ways on how to stop acne at different levels, with better results. The trend is towards early treatment, and preventing or minimizing inflammation, thereby preventing scarring.

How to Stop Acne